WHEN Vicky Marsland told her boss she was afraid of heights, she never imagined the surprise she would spring on her at Christmas.

Sales director Deborah Sandford drew Miss Marsland’s name out of the hat for Meridian Business Sales’ secret Santa and promptly decided she was going to give her employee a hair raising gift — a tandem sky dive experience.

The 23-year-old, who is due to get married in August to her fiance Curtis Taylor, had previously told her colleagues that there was “no way” she would ever do a bungee jump or sky dive.

Mrs Sandford said: “When the usually cool and unflustered Vicky told me that there was no way she would jump out of a plane I thought I’d set her the challenge.

“I knew that she would do brilliantly on the day and raise money for a fantastic charity.”
Miss Marsland, who completed the jump on Easter Sunday, said: “It was very nerve wracking, especially at the free fall. At one stage I couldn’t breathe because I was so scared.

“But once the parachute was up and we drifted down, that part was amazing and I would recommend to anyone.

“I still can’t believe that Deborah made me do it, especially as I’d told her that as I’ve got older I’ve become really scared of rides. I told her there was no way I would ever do a bungee jump or sky dive — so I nearly died when I opened my present and saw what she had got me.

“I said straight away that there was no way I would do it, but she had already set up the donation page so I couldn’t really back out of it.”

The jump has so far raised £545 for Bolton Children's Opportunity Group (COG).